Load-indicator for cartridge-magazines



(No Model.)

W. R. MILLER. LOAD INDICATOR FOR CARTRIDGE MAGAZINES. No. 385,942. Patented July 10. 1888.

' a FIE I- I WITNEEEEE- ..IN\/ENTEJF?;

iM/zm,

U ITED STATES IATENT FFIC "i WILLIAM-R. MILLER, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

Loan-INDICATOR FoRoARTRro'eE- MAGAZINES;

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 385,942, dated July 10, 1888.

Application filed March 27,1888. Serial No. 268,706. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, VVILLIAM R. MILLER,

of the city of Baltimore and State of Maryland, have invented certain Improvements in Repeating Fire-Arms, of which the following is a specification.

" This invention consists in applying to the magazine of a repeating-rifle a device whereby depression and the stock with one or more spring-bolts distributed throughout its length,

any one f...w.hi.ch may be pressed by the finger and made to enter a perforation in the 1 magazine and pass into the depression in the magazine-spring head, when such depression is directly opposite to it. By this arrange' ment the position of the spring-head can be ascertained, and consequently the number of cartridges remaining in themagazine.

In the further description of the said invention which follows, reference is made to the accompanying-drawings, forming a part hereof,

and in which Figure I is an exterior side view of a repeating-rifle embodying my improvements. Fig. II is an enlarged side view of a portion of the improved rifle, and Fig. III a partlysectional view of the same. Figs. IV and V the last cartridge in the magazine.

are details of the invention, as hereinafter described.

Similar letters of reference indicate similarparts in all the figures.

' In the said drawings, A, B, and O are respectively the stock, barrel, and magazine of the improved rifle.

D is the magazine-spring which feeds the cartridges, two of which are shown and denoted by a. This spring is fitted with the usual head, I), which is kept in contact with I form in the side of the head b a depression, 0, and provide the stock with one or more perforations,

d, preferably at the side, as shown in Fig. IV,

which is a longitudinal section of a part of Fig. III, and taken onthe dotted line so ac, and

extend the said perforations through the side of the-magazine.

E E are bolts situated in the perforations d of the stock, each having a collar, 6, between which and the side of the magazine is confined a spiral spring, f. A plate, F, secured to the outside of'the stock,limits the outer movement of thebolts E.

By reference to-Fig. I it will be seen that I have provided the rifle with only two springbolts, they being numbered in Fig. I 2 and 6. Bolt 2 is placed directly opposite the cavity 0 in the head b when the same occupies the position shown in the drawings-that is to say,

when there are only two cartridges in the magazineand bolt 6 is arrangedfor six cartridges. \Vhen the bolt 2 can be pressed in by means of the finger, so that its inner end will enter the cavity in the head, it indicates that there are only two cartridges remaining in the magazine, and when bolt 6 is operative in a similar manner there are six' cartridges in the magazine. While it is only, necessary that the rifle should have one bolt E, and that placed so as to indicate that the supply of cartridges is nearly exhausted, I do not restrict myself to one, or, in fact, to any number, as this is a matterof choice and does not affect the character of the invention. Whether the head I) is fastened to the magazine-spring or loose from it, it has a tendency to turn. I therefore make the cavity in the head by turning, thusforming an annular groove,asshown in the drawings. This construction obviates the necessity of employing,in connection with the head, a guide to prevent its turning in the magazine.

I do not restrict myself to the arrangement of the head and spring as shown and described for the purpose in view, as my invention extends to a device which may be operated from the exterior of. the stock to ascertain the position of the head ofthe magazi ne-spring within cavity,combined with a bolt in the stock which may be operated from the outside of the magazine to bring its end into the said indentation cavity a, the spring-bolt E in the stock, the

cavity, substantially as and for the purpose or cavity, substantially as andifor the purpose specified. specified. WM. R. MILLER.

ing the perforation d, and the head I; of the WM. T. HOWARD,

2. In combination with the magazine Qbav- I Witnesses: magazine-spring having the indentation or DANL. FISHER.

inner end of which is adapted to enter the said to 

